Sunday, October 18, 2009

Collectibles

This post by Dionne got me thinking about collections. When I was little, I had a couple of collections. Some were pretty meaningless though and most unintentional. Stickers. Pogs. Barbies. Fortune cookie fortunes. Stuffed animals by the hundreds.

But the one thing that I actually actively collected that I was really proud of was my rock and shell collection. I would pick up interesting rocks off the ground and scour the beach for pretty shells. I would then tuck them safely away in a pink music box—you know, the kind with the spinning ballerina? Then, when my geologist uncle would come for a visit, I would take them all out to show him and he would tell me their “stories.” What they were, where they most likely came from… I think I still have that collection somewhere in my room at my parents’ house. (Do you see now why I loved this amethyst necklace so?)

Currently, I don’t really collect much. Although, I am most certainly a pack rat. But I think a collection has to be more than stuff you don’t want to throw away. It has to be on purpose, don’t you think? Anyway, I do have about 20 or so shot glasses that I have picked up during my travels. And I have nearly every single Glamour magazine for the past four years. As well as an overflowing jewelry box and tons of strands of necklaces hanging on my wall. Oh, and debt. Seems that’s easy to collect!

I want to start a real collection though. Something legit. I would love to collect more old books, like the ones I bought awhile back. I also have a thing for figurines, particularly ones of little birdies and owls. Though, I won’t say no to a couple of friendly squirrels or a big-eared deer.

See, I have already begun my search for collectibles. Here are some promising finds I came upon while browsing Etsy.

What do you think? A little too grandma-ish? A collection like that could potentially turn my house into a pile of knick-knacks. At the same time, I quite like the idea of a lovely little bird perched on my bookshelf or a pair of critters by the keyboard on my desk.

Full disclosure: I bought the bird. And the owl. Sign me up for Shopaholics Anonymous.

P.S. For those of you wondering where I got the Maple Ginger Snap gelato, I just picked it up at my local Vons. I am pretty sure you can get it at most grocery stores if you are dying to try it!

P.S.S. I had Chinese food Friday night—yum!—and this was my fortune: “You have a strong instinct to take care of the people you love.” Not exactly a “fortune” but one for the “collection," I'd say!

I can't throw away anything either. My mom is trying to clean out my stuff from their house and keeps calling me asking things like, "Do you really want to keep 2 years worth of Seventeen and Teen People magazines." And instead of telling her to just get rid of them, I keep telling her I'll go through it all next time I'm in California.

i used to collect heaps of stuff too when i was little - stamps, coins, stickers, barbies, stuffed toys, erasers.I can see why you want to start a new collection, though. the owls are cute! Collecting things is such a great hobby to have.